Laravel Response Download File Example

We sometimes require to return response with download file from controller method like generate invoice and give to download or etc. Laravel provide us response() with download method that way we can do it.

you can also response download file from storage and delete it after download in laravel 6, laravel 7, laravel 8, laravel 9, laravel 10 and laravel 11 version.

In First argument of download() we have to give path of download file. We can rename of download file by passing second argument of download(). We can also set headers of file by passing third argument.

In bellow example will help you how it is works.

So, first i am going to create new route for our example as like bellow:

routes/web.php

Route::get('donwload-file', 'DownloadController@downloadFile');

Ok, now i have to add one method "downloadFile()" in my DownloadController. If you don't have DownloadController then you can use your own controller as like bellow:

app/Http/Controllers/DownloadController.php

Example 1: Download File from Storage

<?php
  
namespace App\Http\Controllers;
  
use Illuminate\Http\Request;
  
class DownloadController extends Controller
{
    /**
     * Write code on Method
     *
     * @return response()
     */
    public function downloadFile(Request $request)
    {
        $myFile = storage_path("folder/dummy_pdf.pdf");
      
        return response()->download($myFile);
    }
}

Example 2: Download File with name and headers

<?php
  
namespace App\Http\Controllers;
   
use Illuminate\Http\Request;
  
class DownloadController extends Controller
{
    /**
     * Write code on Method
     *
     * @return response()
     */
    public function downloadFile(Request $request)
    {
        $myFile = public_path("dummy_pdf.pdf");
        $headers = ['Content-Type: application/pdf'];
        $newName = 'itsolutionstuff-pdf-file-'.time().'.pdf';
      
        return response()->download($myFile, $newName, $headers);
    }
}

Example 2: After Download File will remove

<?php
  
namespace App\Http\Controllers;
  
use Illuminate\Http\Request;
  
class DownloadController extends Controller
{
    /**
     * Write code on Method
     *
     * @return response()
     */
    public function downloadFile(Request $request)
    {
        $myFile = storage_path("folder/dummy_pdf.pdf");
      
        return response()->download($myFile)->deleteFileAfterSend(true);
    }
}

So, maybe it can help you....